At our Vital+Thriving Corporate Spiritual Discernment Event held on June 16th 2024, we heard about the progress that our Steering Committee and Listening Teams have made gathering and understanding data and insights from our research and interviews. It was a chance to meet as a community and brainstorm on thoughts about St. James’ and our community. You can find a video of the presentation “What we have learnt so far” here.
Over the summer, we, the Steering Committee members, have been collating everything we heard, and we saw that we’d reflected on several areas where we’re following our values as a community and as a church. We wanted to celebrate these with everyone, and so we’re sharing them here…
At St. James’, our spiritual values are deeply rooted in the teachings of Jesus and the Gospel, emphasizing love, compassion, and faith. Living by love of God and neighbor along with celebrating significant life events through ceremonies are core values. We strive to create a welcoming and safe community where individuals can share their stories and grow together. We are committed to acknowledging and learning from the broader church’s history while actively engaging in environmental stewardship through sustainable practices. Our church is dedicated to addressing global suffering and issues, encouraging renewal and transformation in our approach to faith and community. Through visibility on social media and enriching sermons, we aim to embody Christian values and foster a strong sense of fellowship and worship. The church embraces values of being loving, liberating, and life-giving.
The church emphasizes the importance of scripture, offering gatherings beyond Sunday services. A balance of traditional and contemporary music enriches the worship experience. Meaningful liturgical practices, rituals, and prayer are central to spiritual life. We strive to embody the Gospel, living out our faith in God, in and beyond worship.
We emphasize a community-based, positive environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging. We welcome everyone warmly, ensuring no one feels like a stranger. We encourage diversity and honor the LGBTQ+ community. We make newcomers feel at home by wearing name tags and engaging in conversations. Offering quality refreshments like good coffee helps foster fellowship. Addressing difficult topics with honesty and compassion is important.
We celebrate life transitions and provide ministry to the sick through Eucharistic Visitors. We prioritize children and youth through Sunday School, Youth Group, and Summer Camp. We invite people to participate in various roles, such as ushering and many other ministries. We ensure everyone feels involved and appreciated, recognizing the contributions of our seniors.
St. James’ prioritizes clear and accessible communication. The church calendar is kept up-to-date in the parish hall and online. Enhancing the website ensures information is consistent and accessible. Making worship services familiar and accessible to all is a key focus. St. James’ will continue to be a place of hope, belonging, and spiritual growth for all its members.
We are working towards a discussion with the vestry about potential areas of further exploration. We expect to have this discussion at an upcoming Vestry meeting.
Mike Scrutton, V+T Steering Team Leader